About This Project

Within reptiles, snakes are the group most affected by roads due to factors intrinsic to their ecology and their complex patterns of movement, which leads them to use different habitat types for basking, shelter and foraging. In this study we propose to identify how landscape heterogeneity, seasonality, and ecological aspects of different snake species associate with patterns of mortality on a road. Such information is essential to help mitigate the impacts of roads on snake communities.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Snakes are the reptiles that die the most on roads. Their roadkill rates in Colombia is estimated at 176,660 snakes per year (Lynch, 2012). In the state of Meta, where our project takes place, a recent study revealed that 131 snakes from 21 species were run over in only 51 days (Rincón et al. 2015). This result suggests that roads in the area are a significant threat to this group that locally represents approximately 14.37% of the national snake species diversity, including two endemic and threatened endangered species. Despite this estimation, very few studies have evaluated the impacts of roads on snake communities in Colombia (Quintero-Angel et al. 2012) and none of them have assessed the main factors contributing to roadkill, until now.

What is the significance of this project?

Our study aims to identify the patterns of richness, abundance, composition and dominance of snake species in the landscape mosaic that surrounds a road located in a highly biodiverse area, and will identify its relation with patterns of snake mortality. This research will contribute to enhance the knowledge about the road ecology by assessing not only factors previously evaluated by other studies (e.g. , species ecology and seasonality), but also factors not previously considered, such as the influence of landscape heterogeneity on roadkill patterns. Our results will provide new insights on the specific factors influencing snake roadkill rates in the tropics, particularly in savanna areas, which is essential to help mitigate the impacts of roads on snake communities.

What are the goals of the project?

The main goal of this project is to identify how seasonality and landscape heterogeneity associate with patterns of snake mortality on a road located in the savannah of eastern Colombia. To achieve this goal, we evaluate the richness, abundance, composition and evenness of snake species in the area adjacent to the road at 13 points with different degree of landscape heterogeneity, during both the rainy and dry seasons. Besides, We aim to dentify how these parameters explain patterns of snake roadkills; and establish the relationship of factors such as foraging habits, body size, and sex with the mortality rates of different species. Taking an approach where seasonal and spatial factors are considered will provide us with the tools needed to suggest future conservation strategies.

Budget

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We have received limited funding to cover the expenses for half of the field trips (during the dry season). Funding is being requested in order to also conduct rainy season surveys, which involves visiting 13 sites three times, for a total of 45 field days. This funding will cover transportation to and between sites and all expenses in the field. Conducting surveys both during the dry and the rainy season will provide a better understanding of the main factors influencing roadkills in the area. This is because the effects of landscape heterogeneity, intrinsic aspects of the biology of the species, and other extrinsic factors of the road may be affected by seasonality.

Endorsed by

Snakes are a maligned group; at least you do not usually think of them when considering biodiversity conservation. In the recent Colombian Red Book of Reptiles, fully 25% of the snake species known from Colombia could not be assessed because they were deemed “Data Deficient”. We badly need more information on many Colombian snake species to be able to better protect them, so I highly recommend this project for support.

Road ecology is important in conservation biology. Snakes are highly affected as roads become ideal places for thermoregulation, attracting individuals from forests to a certain death. Recent studies have projected that in Colombia more than 79 snake individuals are killed per Km per year. Field studies in heterogeneous landscapes are critical to better understand the interactions between road kill and species ecology. This project will identify road sectors which are more prone to become an ecological trap for snakes in the Orinoco plains.

Project Timeline

From July to September 2017 we will conduct 3 surveys in the rainy season. We will conduct data analyses, write the discussion and sharing of the results with the local community from January to June 2018. From July to November 2018, we will deliver to project backers (book separators with pictures of snakes), share results with the scientific community at a professional meeting) and submit the final manuscript.

May 22, 2017

Project Launched

Jul 09, 2017

Travel to the Meta department to conduct Survey 1 of the rainy season (15 days)

Aug 13, 2017

Travel to the Meta department to conduct Survey 2
of the rainy season (15 days)

Sep 16, 2017

Travel to the Meta department to conduct Survey 3
of the rainy season (15 days)

Affiliates

Affiliates

Team Bio

The Herpetological Group of Antioquia is an interdisciplinary research group of the Universidad de Antioquia, with twenty years of experience. The GHA conducts ecological, biogeographical, behavioral, taxonomic, systematic and genetic studies, as well as projects focusing on the demographic status, causes of decline and possible management strategies for amphibian and reptile species facing conservation problems.

Mónica Tatiana Rincón Aranguri

I was born in Colombia, in a city located in eastern Colombia called Villavicencio. Since my childhood I have always been passionate about nature, especially the snakes. I studied Veterinary Medicine, and during my professional life I have been associated with public and private entities where I had the opportunity to work with wild species subject to illegal traffic, perform wildlife rescue and produce statistics on illegal traffic, and conduct environmental workshops on issues such as biodiversity, prevention and attention to ophidian accidents, and environmental regulations. Later, in 2015, I became an investigator of a research project on roadkills of wild fauna in three main roads in the department of Meta, Colombia, where we obtained a first diagnosis of this problem in the region. Based on the results obtained in this pilot project, I wrote my master’s thesis proposal, which I presented to the government of the department of Meta, obtaining from them a scholarship to conduct my master’s studies in the Universidad de Antioquia. I currently am a member of the Herpetological Group of Antioquia, where I am completing my second semester of the masters program.